New details surface for Man of Steel

Posted July 10, 2012 - 16:04
by
CB Droege

We’ve heard very little about the new Superman movie over the past six months. Occasional rumours about plot points or supposed set leaks have surfaced, but substantial news was absent since filming kicked off in the winter.

On Tuesday morning, a new page showed up on the IMAX website announcing that Man of Steel would be coming to their theaters, along with an official synopsis. Unsurprisingly, the page has since been removed without comment, suggesting that perhaps it was not intended to go live just quite yet. The synopsis reads as follows:

In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time. Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) is a young twenty-something journalist who feels alienated by powers beyond his imagination. Transported years ago to Earth from Krypton, a highly advanced, distant planet, Clark struggles with the ultimate question ‘Why am I here?’ Shaped by the values of his adoptive parents Martha (Diane Lane) and Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner), Clark discovers having extraordinary abilities means making difficult decisions. When the world is in dire need of stability, an even greater threat emerges. Clark must become a Man of Steel, to protect the people he loves and shine as the world’s beacon of hope – Superman.

The IMAX release of Man of Steel will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Much of the synopsis is hardly new or unexpected, as most of us are already familiar with the story of Superman at its core. In addition to the basics, however, it seems to confirm that the film will be based on the retooled Superman from last year’s relaunch.

The new Superman is a bit more moody and a somewhat of a loner, marking a huge shift from the previously canonical cheery and happy-to-help Superman of yore. Indeed, Superman is an alien, and now he finally feels it - incapable of truly relating to any of the people around him.

Unique among the famous DC heroes, Superman doesn't wear a mask to disguise himself. Rather, the man of steel uses one to hide himself when he’s not. Essentially, Superman is the real guy, that’s who he truly is, and Clark Kent is the disguise.

While this has always been true to a certain extent, the concept was never really explored in-depth before the most recent stories. It didn’t begin quite as recently as the new #1s, however. Superman’s back story has been slowly rewritten over the last few years, including the popular retelling of his journey to Metropolis, and his establishment as Superman, Birth Right. The new Superman also features a revamped costume - looks more like armor than spandex, and no longer includes underwear outside of the pants - which we’ve already seen Cavill sporting in promotional photographs.

"When [the New 52] was announced, everyone went, ‘Arrhhh! Everything’s changed,’" Cavill said late last year at a press event for the film Immortals, in which he also starred. "It’s part of the evolution of the character. There is a modernization to it, and certainly our style is making him easier to associate with because it’s pretty tough to associate with an invulnerable alien.

"There are a lot of people who have dedicated their life to loving this character. Their opinion does matter. I’ve done my research on the source material. I have my opinions on the various bits and bobs, but sometimes there will be a little gem out there about one of the books, and I’ll say to myself, ‘Yeah. That’s a good point.’"

Expect to see Cavill’s Superman smile less, with barely any banter with bad guys, at least compared to previous Superman films. Also, expect a small outcry from fans and critics alike, who perhaps have not seen and enjoyed the new Superman, and feel he’s being depicted incorrectly.

Man of Steel is directed by Zack Snyder and stars Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, and Amy Adams. The film - which is still in production - remains on track to hit theaters on June 13, 2013.